Coaching with Christ

I stood on the guest sideline amazed by how many students, parents, faculty, teachers, and alumni stood and sat in the stands for SPHS. I didn’t know our game plan, but I knew that our players and coaches had bought into it and its schemes for the night, without wavering. Intimidation and the reality of being the underdog against the powerhouse San Pasqual were not going to play a factor on this night. Players were pumped on the sideline, smacking shoulder pads and hitting each other on the helmet with their hands, while hooting and hollering. All this excitement had me thrilled as if we already won the game. I wanted to run onto the field and hit someone, yet the whistle hadn’t even blown yet. LOL! J/P I would have been ejected!!
As I walked around in my zone, dapping up players, giving them hi five’s, I understood I had this glow of fire that burns with passion from within me for the game. I did believe we came ready to win if we stay together as a team and play as one. I was known from prior practices and game attendance for being a little fireball, motivating players, seeing possible plays develop before the snap and calling them out (roughly 70% of the time I would be correct what the other team was running on offense, but who was keeping count) and encouraging the team during games. My eyes spoke as well as my demeanor: “I believe in you! I believe in us!” That night, I did not hear one negative whisper from teammates or coaches amongst each other. Junior and senior players with 2 to 3 years of football experience had confidence playing against players who had been playing since they were 6, 7, and 8 years old. We were ready to take the Battle of the Bear rival trophy back home to the trophy case at Orange Glen. As the final whistle blew that would not happen that night.

Seeing a neighbor in pain lit a fire of inspiration!

As the final seconds ticked off the clock and the ref blew his whistle and called the game I got to see for a moment into the soul of another man's pain and hear his cry of disbelief from within. This would be the inspiration that has us now as readers, coaches, and students of the game (in which we compete in) reading this book “Coaching with Christ, A Designed Testimony of Faith and Mentality of How to Grow Your Sports Team to Make the Playoffs."

One Accord (Brief Summary) refers to the following:

1. Understanding someone’s pain and need before asking them.
2. Finding the courage to ask them how we can play our part to help them change their situation. (This is the part in the bible where God tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves. It’s good to realize that it’s not just enough to believe and love God, but walk with action in our belief. If you are someone who likes to help others find their way to success, then you’re doing a good deed of service unto your neighbor.)
3. Finding the Strength to listen to their brokenness.
4. Pray to God on their behalf and ask God how you can better assist them and team.
5. Find out more about us as individuals and coaches by measuring the weight of our heart to have faith for someone else when they’re defeated and don't have it at the time.
6. Develop a plan of Success with God’s help. This is where we do something or do nothing based on our heart’s desire to help others.
7. Present the plan that’s been given to you by your request in Jesus Christ name.
8. Watching the plan become successful in action and not just in words.
9. Stepping and walking into our new blessings. This is where we find out that when we bless others, God blesses us. Amen

Writing with Jesus Christ, the Author, Finisher, of Our Faith:

After talking to Coach and getting his words that it would be cool to write this plan for his team to possibly use the following year, I was ALL IN like the Cleveland Cavaliers 2016. That night what God allowed me to see and eventually hear after the game ended was a coach who stood alone. A coach who wondered, why? A competitor who thought to himself, why are parents, taking, half the student athletes who are supposed to attend Orange Glen High School, to have them attend the football program at San Pasqual? The look of disappointment was embedded in the soul of his face and his entire posture was down. Parents choosing to use the school system do not truly see the unfairness that it has on the student body, teachers, and coaches. For me to see this unfold before my eyes only added fuel to the fire to go to God on behalf of Coach. No one likes to be a laughing stock and laughed out a stadium. The laughter provoked my faith to fight back in prayer to God and become a seeking man for God's help and a man of my word to Coach. As I walked off the field, God was already giving me flashes of small visions on how my plan from Him could assist Coach. Honestly, I did not think nor expect Coach to pour out his heart that night to me based on his strong character, but he did; and today, and for the last 6 years I am forever gratefully indebted to him for doing this act of brotherly love. Thee book talks about opportunity and this matter of opportunity was all in God’s plan and perfect timing. I’m looking forward to the future and what sports team I can help next!! (Contact Information Inside) Thank you, Jesus Christ for the ISFL Plan!!